I blacked the lettering to make it easier to check the levels:

 

As I was still not 100% happy with the heat mod I invented for the coolant reservoir, I went a stage further and created a shield to go around it:

This has some lagging on the inside:

And it fits like this:


The finshed set up:

 

What next? Suspension tweaks, small battery, lose the airbags and rear door cards, new steering wheel, new lighter bucket seats and fit alloy bonnet.

 

I like that heat mod. What's the material on the inside?

 

It's exhaust heat wrap. It works quite well at reducing heat transfer from the tank to the inlet manifold and the inlet pipe.

 

Excellent stuff. Love this thread, all the little bit of detail you put into it...

 

Thanks Ollie.

I changed the oil tonight and the new Subaru filters are even smaller than the small filters that replace the original big one's! I hope they're OK?...

I've started removing the stereo stuff, serviced the front A/R and associated rose joints.

My quest to remove stuff has pointed me towards performing a radiator fan cowelectomy. As it happens I think there is, at best, 0.5kg in removing metal from the fan cowls. The real weight is in the dual fans and they feel like 5kg's a piece. So, can these be replaced with Kenlow lightweight jobbies? The originals a 3 wire though...

 

You can indeed replace them, pair of Spall fans would be my choice.

I have my two wire Spall's connected to the stock three wire set up, can't remember which ones I spliced together off the top of my head though

 

So what are the 3 wires for?

 

why not remove the driver's seat belt..lol looking good i see you are looking at lightweight batteries-lightened glass/plexiglass next??
martin

 

Probably + / - and a speed sensing wire...at least that's what 3-wire computer fans are!

I'm such a geek sometimes!

 

Because on the road it's easier to use a 3 point belt - it's quick plus have you ever tried to use toll booths, see out of junctions etc with a harness. lol

Plastic windows isn't straightforward due to frameless windows

 

Thanks. As it happens the fans only weigh 1.2KGs each so it's not worth the cost of replacing with anything else. The shroud weight loss has begun and it'll save a paltry 0.5kg for both shrouds I have to do it though

 

Urrm right, what can I think of...

How standard are you looking to keep the car on the inside?

 

Good question! It won't be full on track car as the carpets and trim will stay. The tar pads will go where easily accessible and the dash will stay. The airbags will go as they aren't required with harness. A/C to stay - if you've had to wait 20 mins to get off the Ring in the middle of summer, you'll agree to this

 

Hmm good one

Just thinking through things:
Rear seats
Stereo and accompanying bits
Electric window motors (maybe leave the drivers one in?)
Spare tyre
Boot trim
Left foot rest
Floor mats

Not sure what else!

 

I have a long list of potential stuff to junk that will still mean the car remains civilised. Rear window motors and central locking will go. Spare whell has been replaced by a tin of foam stuff and therefore the jack has gone too. ECU to be moved to under passenger side dash and heavy plate to go.

 

Good idea! Hadn't thought of that.

Remove one wiper?
Rain gutters...

 

Floyd, i pulled my airbag sensors, brain and wiring out a couple of weeks ago (the steering wheel went over a year ago). I put everything i removed in a poly bag and it weighed in at nearly 2kg.

I removed my stereo a while back but haven't got round to whipping out the speakers yet.

 

Have you got a jdm bonnet? (probably have if you're getting that serious about weight) maybe alloy wishbones etc too?

Seen a couple of titanium exhausts go for decent money recently, another big weight area.

 

I have to be careful of the lightweight exhausts as they can be too noisy for tracks these days...

Yes, JDM bonnet. Face lift and rare.

What's the process for removing the airbags safely?

 

just remove the battery for an hour or more before hand and then remove airbag.

Simon

 

Are the airbag sensors and brain esy to find (I don't have a manual)...

A few pictures:
I've finished the airbox heat shield by extending it right up to the front cross member. I did this because when the rad fans operate it chucks gob loads of hot air into the airbox area. There's a little cut out for the bonnet stay of course.



Fan cowlectomy:
Before

After

Saves a whopping 250g = don't bother unless really bored

 

Looks nice though Floyd

 

Looks much better painted!. Wouldn't the original push the air through the rad better though?

 

Airbag sensors are inside wheelarch on chasis leg just above towing eyes and brain is in centre console in front of gear stick below radio.

 

My logic here is that with the fans static/off, the flow will be better as it's less restricted and therefore more efficient cooling for track work. The cowls/shrouds must be designed for the toughest conditions that the car may be placed in i.e. hot, arid countries, so therefore in the UK it will not be so important to use every last cfm from the fans = 2 open fans will do...

Thanks for the info Steven.

 

That is some serious cutting down on weight there

I'm looking for a good drivers door card if you have one

 

How about the rest of the interior?

 

Done that already.... my drivers door handle looks like it has had a small dog hanging from it

The relocated PS tank is very interesting to me... I have have some serious troubles with my PS over the last few months after changing to another tank and it has taken ages to resolve it, I know you can get a Spec R kit for relocation but I do like the idea of an OEM relocate.

I have one really dumb question to ask, I assume the tank feeds the pump via gravity so after moving it to where it is now have you had any issues at all or does the fact the system pumps does the flow of oil get back up to the pump ok ?